The health threat of COVID-19 — and the social, educational and economic disruptions caused in its wake — are severe and complex.

Colorado Community Media publishes 20 community newspapers in the Denver metro area in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, Elbert and Jefferson counties. Our mission has always been to build community through trustworthy, quality journalism that tells the local stories no one else will. We care deeply about the communities we report about every week. And in these difficult times, we pledge to not only continue chronicling the information you need to know about COVID-19, but also the stories that tell how the virus is affecting the families, businesses and institutions of each community and what we are all doing to cope and help each other out.

We cannot do it alone though.

Tell us how COVID-19 is affecting you. Share with us the kinds of stories you’d like to see from your local news. Tell us about the challenges you’re facing — and the kindnesses you’ve encountered that help connect communities and prop us up during difficult times. Email us a newsdesk@coloradocommunitymedia.com or check out this website's contact page to find your neighborhood's specific reporter.

Coronavirus is a family of viruses named for the microscopic view of crownlike spikes on their surfaces, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These viruses can cause the common cold or more severe diseases such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), which have seen outbreaks in the past, according to the CDC. COVID-19 — standing for “coronavirus disease 2019” — first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough and breathing trouble. Most people develop only mild symptoms, according to Denver Public Health. But according to the CDC, some — usually those with severe underlying health conditions or older adults — develop more serious symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal.

This site includes the latest statewide news, including the most up-to-date infection and death figures from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the latest statements from the Governor, as well as web links and phone numbers for state services.

The good news for stressed parents is that there are more online resources to help parents keep children learning and intellectually engaged. The link above lists several resources, but you can also check out the back catalogue of CCM's longtime education columnist too, Esther Macalady, for a wealth of home-based activity ideas.